Forget talk of the play offs. Forget hoping to make it to the Championship. Forget all the recent pats on the backs.

Forget it all, because Bradford City still remain a few steps behind where we expect them to be. Better than many of their League One peers, but a top six side? There’s not nearly enough evidence to support this; and until we really see it, let’s forget believing it is there.

This was a disgraceful performance. So far below what is acceptable that nearly every player should hang their head in shame. It doesn’t matter that Colchester were bottom of the league and complacency set it. That type of gutless Bradford City performance should never happen against anyone. It was truly appalling.

This continues to be an up and down season, but what undermines the mood is that City can’t seem to get ahead in the promotion race. They started the season awfully, then recovered. They stuttered again, and then recovered. They struggled through January, and have recently recovered. But they’ve yet to do more than recover past failings. They’ve never done anything better than perform to their capability on some occasions.

And that is not a sentence to describe a top six side.

Sometimes games of football can become too easy. Sometimes players can get carried away by their dominance. They start taking short cuts. Stop working as hard. They allow their energy and intensity to drop. And soon, they’re in trouble.

Because a team that has a first 20 minutes as bad as Colchester did here can only get better. And if you let them do just that, it’s hard to rediscover your discarded focus.

And that happened here to Bradford City. 20 minutes in, and the only outcome was going to be a cricket score. City, attacking the Kop end, were a goal to the good and looked threatening with every attack. They could – and should – have scored a hatful. Colchester’s high defensive line was seized upon, with Kyel Reid in particular forcing numerous errors.

The only goal was a good one – and it was a product of City’s promising January window activity. Josh Cullen robbed his man of possession, charged towards the penalty area with no defender near to stop him, and eventually crossed low for Wes Thomas to tap home for a first goal for the club. The two were amongst City’s brightest performers, and the fact neither wouldn’t finish the game became a major talking point.

Either side of the goal, good chances came and went. James Hanson was guilty of blazing over a cross, when through on goal in a wide position and with team mates running into the box. After Thomas forced a good save, Hanson could only head the rebound straight at the keeper. City’s leading scorer was unlucky to see a more powerful drive at goal roll just wide. Reid was the architect of that chance, he had U’s right back Kane Vincent-Young on toast, to the point he had to be subbed by his manager before half time.

But playing really well in fits and starts is the story of City’s season. They inexplicably dropped off here, and were punished by a Colchester equaliser that was messy and avoidable. Darren Ambrose the scorer.

And with the goal, the pace went out of the game. Colchester abandoned the high line and sat deep, whilst City looked reluctant to commit players forward and attack. The fearless and high tempo approach, which was so effective early doors, was forgotten. It became timid, slow and utterly frustrating.

The 65 visiting Colchester fans – and massive respect to them for travelling so far on a Tuesday night when their team is in such woeful form – were buoyed by their players’ efforts, and at times their chanting could be heard over the thousands of home supporters. A draw was no good for them in their circumstances, so they went for it early doors in the second half and were rewarded for it.

George Moncur was excellent and hit the woodwork twice in three minutes. And then Ambrose was one of a number of visiting players queuing up at the back post to smash the ball past Williams for his second goal. City’s marking was non-existent. This was a bad night for Stephen Darby, James Meredith and Nathan Clarke.

What do you do if you’re Phil Parkinson? When your entire team stops following the gameplan and collectively plays so poorly? The City manager will inevitably face post match criticism, and elements of it will be justified, but his players let him down big time here. They let the fans down, and they have let the club down.

Tony McMahon has had plenty of plaudits of late, but was dire. Moving him to the centre of midfield for the final half hour helped no one, least of all his team mates. How many times is Parkinson going to try him in the centre? It never works.

Equally damaging to City’s feeble fightback attempt was bringing on Billy Clarke for Thomas – a decision prompted by an injury to the latter, not that the crowd, who booed the change, knew this at the time. Billy Clarke and James Hanson have never formed an effective partnership in a 4-4-2. Billy Clarke has never thrived in a City 4-4-2. This is a major problem. He is not the answer right now.

Cullen and Thomas were City’s two best outfield players, and losing them had a major effect (Lee Evans was not the same player without Cullen alongside him). The home side lost their way and lost the plot. They rarely looked like coming back for a point.

Having the crowd on their backs caused players to go into their shells. But that is not good enough. It is not easy to play for Bradford City, but it does not justify going into hiding when the going gets tough.

Which sums up where we are at, and where we are failing. With a fair wind behind City can go again and recover quickly, but these slips ups keep happening and they are hugely damaging. When things start to go wrong, this team lack the capacity, know-how and bravery to turn it around. They fold. They have to be better than this. And the frustration lies in the fact that they should be.

Unless something radically changes, this is going to go down as a season of underachievement and disappointment. In a wide open division, City keep tripping over their own shoelaces rather than mounting a credible promotion push. There are some mitigating factors, but not enough to excuse nights as wretched as this one.

A big, big response on Saturday is the least that should be expected. But even if that does happens, forget getting excited again. This team now have a hell of a lot to do to win back our faith.

]]>https://footballsplog.wordpress.com/2015/10/28/colchester-united-have-greater-stability-this-season-says-us-coach/
Wed, 28 Oct 2015 21:48:35 +0000danielracheterhttps://footballsplog.wordpress.com/2015/10/28/colchester-united-have-greater-stability-this-season-says-us-coach/After their dramatic escape from relegation on the last day of the season, the league one side have learnt from their previous mistakes and stuck to a vital ingredient of experience this time around, says Jamie Griggs.

The youth coach believes the side can build on their impressive start to the season and be in and around the play offs come May and has echoed the great work that Colchester have done to keep hold of their prized assets.

“It’s been nice to see players committing their long term future” the 23 year old said. Obviously with the financial situation that Colchester find themselves in with the stadium being built not that long ago, I think the club is high on promoting youth players.”

Colchester have secured the services of former premier league players Darren Ambrose and Owen Garvan which Griggs thinks will be crucial if they are to push for the play offs.

“With the players we’ve got this season like Darren Ambrose and Owen Garvan and George Moncur on form then why not – I think anyone in this league can reach the play offs, whether it be league one or league two and now we have that added experience which is key.”

Questioned on the future of George Moncur, the young coach was quick to quash the rumours of the ex West Ham midfielder potentially leaving the club.

“I know George personally and he’s fully committed to the us and wants to get more goals and do well. Obviously if a big club comes in for him then things might change but for now I know he is fully committed to Colchester.”

Catch the full interview here at:

By Daniel Racheter

]]>https://joshgreeney.wordpress.com/2015/07/26/ipswich-town-preview/
Sun, 26 Jul 2015 13:34:53 +0000joshdgreeneyhttps://joshgreeney.wordpress.com/2015/07/26/ipswich-town-preview/Ipswich Town will look to put last seasons play-off semi final defeat to bitter rivals Norwich City behind them. With much of last years squad being retained I see no reason why they can’t repeat their success. Mick McCarthy has kept quiet on any incoming names, but Darryl Murphy putting pen to paper on a new one year deal will be crucial to their chances.

The Tractor Boys sensational home record was the fundamental reason for reaching the dizzy heights that they did. They lost just 3 matches at Portman Road, and had the highest points tally amongst the whole league. Despite putting on a brilliant show in front of their own fans, there weren’t so many fireworks on their away travels, 7 wins, 7 draws, and 9 losses, contributing to their gentle slip down the table.

Fans Favourite and former captain Tommy Smith was one of the tractor boys most consistent players last season, to the extent where he missed just 4 league games all season. Partner in crime Christophe Berra who arrived after Wolves were relegated back in 2012/13 also solidified a spot in the starting eleven, pushing Luke Chambers out to right-back. Despite being rarely forced into action yesterdays friendly against Peterborough, the backline partnership of Tommy Smith and Christophe Berra looked calm and composed, limiting the posh to shots form range. Overall Ipswich have a vastly experienced defence that still has the unquestionable ability to keep clean sheets. With the squads average age now touching on 27, you would think Mick McCarthy may turn towards youth rather than bringing in even more experience if extra over is needed.

Murphy and McGoldrick were poor against Posh

After watching the Tractor boys play out an abysmal 0-0 draw against Peterborough at the weekend, my thoughts have slightly changed about their chances. McCarthy played what you expect to be their strongest eleven in the first 45, creating very few chances, the strike partnership of Darryl Murphy and David McGoldrick will also need to be much sharper come the 8th August, not even testing goalkeeper Ben Alnwick on the day. Jonathan Parr looked more that good enough to replace Bournemouth bound Tyrone Mings in the left back role. After the game, Mick McCarthy insisted he learnt very little about his players. But during the season Ipswich will have to beat teams of the calibre in order to reproduce last seasons success and a draw against a League One side is simply not satisfactory. I’m all for teams not chopping and changing players every season, but with it not quite being enough last year, you would think more quality would need to be added to go that one step further.

]]>https://hltco.org/2014/05/02/remembering-survival-sunday-four-years-on/
Fri, 02 May 2014 10:03:08 +0000Hopkin Looking To Curl One...https://hltco.org/2014/05/02/remembering-survival-sunday-four-years-on/Today marks the fourth anniversary of Survival Sunday at Hillsborough, an afternoon which will remain forever imprinted on the minds of Palace fans around the world forever more. Looking back now, it’s almost impossible to put into words quite how monumental a day it was, with the point we eventually gained maintaining our status as a Championship club and almost certainly, playing a pivotal role in ensuring that Crystal Palace FC continues to live on in its current form.

Looking back now, the memories feel both distant and vivid simultaneously. So much has happened since, four permanent managers, a painful parting of the ways with a club legend, a successful play-off campaign and most recently, a season which has seen the club keep it’s place in the Premier League beyond a single season for the first time in their history and yet, for most, that overcast afternoon in Yorkshire remains the most emotive moment of our recent history.

We’ve had high and low points since, some far more extreme than others, but in truth, that 2-2 draw encapsulated every emotion you could ever possibly experience as a football fan. We all dream of success and big victories, but the feelings brought on by that game will stay with every single one of us forever. When you strip away all of the peripheral drama that surrounds fandom, the core sees you invest your hopes and feelings in a group of players and staff that represent you on a football pitch, it’s both illogical and beautiful in equal measure.

The final whistle brought jubilant celebration and exhausted tears from the away end, with the players just as drained as those who had been watching them. Four years have passed, but we must never forget the relief we all felt in the minutes and hours following that game.

Chris Burke – As good a winger as any in this division, but he’s on a pretty fat wage (which clubs will know we will be desperate to get rid of) and is nearing the end of his contract.

Realistic clubs in the market for him: Any club in the top-half of the Championship looking for a bit more creativity to boost a promotion push.

Realistic transfer fee: £400-500,000.

Darren Randolph – I know he’s only just come, but he’s probably been our best player so far this season. The fact that he’s playing so well, and the fact that we have more than able cover in Colin Doyle, may mean that if the price was good the Board may see him as expendable.

Realistic clubs in the market for him: Tough one because a team can only ever play one Goalkeeper, but I would say any club in the Championship and a fair few in the Premiership should take a look at him even if it was as cover, especially as in Goalkeeping terms he is still so young.

Realistic transfer fee: £500-650,000

Callum Reilly – Really starting to come into his own at this level of football. A good young player who I think could eventually become a competent player in the Premiership. An old head on young shoulders, for me he is the most exciting prospect to come out of our academy who is still at the club.

Realistic clubs in the market for him: West Brom were apparently sniffing around him in the summer, and I think in time he could become a real good player or that type of team.

Realistic transfer fee: £400-500,000

David Murphy – One of the best technical defenders in the division, a good ball player. However his injuries have cost him a yard or two of pace, and it’s now clear he has to be rested at pretty regular intervals to try and prevent injury. Also would be on a decent wage, and his contract is out in the summer.

Realistic clubs in the market for him: Any Championship club needing another quality player to bolster the left hand side of the pitch should seriously consider him, but would have to be mindful of his injury record.

Realistic transfer fee: £200-300,000

Wade Elliott – Tuesday’s faux pas aside, one of the best footballing brains at this level. But he is hitting his mid-thirties and is starting to play deeper and deeper, whereas before he used to be able to get up and down the line and bomb into the box.

Realistic clubs in the market for him: Any Championship squad with inexperienced young players could find no older head better than his at the nominal price we would want. You could even see a big League One club like Sheffield United or Wolves taking a punt on him

Realistic transfer fee: £50-100,000

Tom Adeyemi – Started the season like a headless chicken, chasing the ball relentlessly like it was a pot of gold. In the past month or so though, he’s improved remarkably; he’s learnt when to sit deep and when to make forward runs, and its showing; his brute strength makes him batter the crap out of his opposition in the midfield, and his athleticism has seen him getting forward and getting three goals in a month. I’d be more gutted to lose him than any other player.

Realistic clubs in the market for him: Lee Clark said he could play in the Premier League and I totally agree. I honestly think he could play for England if he keeps improving the way he has been. But he’s only played twelve games for us and before that only ever played in League One really, so it’s difficult to know who would be after him, and as such that would knock down his transfer fee right now.

Realistic transfer fee: £750,000-900,000 (F*****G BARGAIN)

So what of the other big names/earners?

Foe over two years we have tried and tried and tried to offload Nikola Zigic, but his wages are too astronomical for anyone to take on no matter how much we have tried to sweeten the deal, so I think he’s stuck with us until his contract finally (thank f***) runs out in the summer. Shabba has barely featured for a year or so, but his two goals and general all round display when he came on vs. Stoke on Tuesday night may show that there is still some life in the old dog yet; still, I can’t see anyone paying an actual transfer fee for him, and I think we’d have to pay up a portion of his contract for him to go. You would have to be a total dickhead of a manager to buy Darren Ambrose, because he’s been crap and injury prone for ages, so let’s hope Alex Mc****h gets another job soon. I’d like to think Robbo could be kept hold of, because I like defenders that like to try and kill strikers, and to be fair I doubt he’s on much anyway.

I doubt even our board would try and sell all of those players, but even if they did they would struggle to bring in £3million between them in transfer fees if my guestimations are correct, and then what? There is literally nothing left to sell bar the ground, the pies, Jeremy and Ken. I hope we can avoid yet another exodus of players, but the stories coming out of the club don’t sound great; to be honest, administration doesn’t scare me that much now, if it’s going to happen, then get it over with. But this prolonged decimation of my team and my club is becoming ever more excruciating.

Still, at least I can wake up in the morning knowing I ain’t a V***a Bastard. All the best to the Blue Machine against Charlton tomorrow, and all the best to West Ham as they take on Al-Qaeda James Lyndon’s league of evil at Upton Park.

Having fallen behind to an early goal from Craig Mackail-Smith, we refused to roll over and eventually managed to draw level late on, thanks to a low strike from Wilfried Zaha. A few minutes later, Darren Ambrose bundled home our second goal, sending the travelling fans behind the goal into ecstasy, before Glenn Murray hammered the final nail into the Brighton coffin, swiping a shot into the bottom corner of the net and killing off any hopes the hosts may have had of salvaging any pride.

The significance of the goal couldn’t be overstated, with the already delirious Palace fans able to bask in the glory of the ultimate turnaround. The days after the fixture passed in a glorious haze, with bragging rights assured in awesome fashion, but then the attached video made its way onto YouTube, with a Brighton fan letting out an anguished cry of “For fucks sake, Murray!” as the ball made its way towards the net.

The result of the video was extreme, with our fans latching onto the moment in a big way. Countless t-shirts were made with the phrase plastered across it, the video itself received over 25,000 views and Murray himself was made aware of the story behind it.

As a Palace fan, night’s don’t get much better…

]]>https://hltco.org/2013/08/11/crystal-palace-news-11082013/
Sun, 11 Aug 2013 12:25:04 +0000Hopkin Looking To Curl One...https://hltco.org/2013/08/11/crystal-palace-news-11082013/All the news from SE25 in the last 24 hours

In the opening stages of the second half Speroni made a great block to deny Lucas Biglia when a fortunate deflection led to the central midfielder bursting through on goal as the visitors nearly put result out of sight, but having come off the bench at half-time new signing Dwight Gayle went close to grabbing an equaliser on 57 minutes when he played a clever one-two with Kevin Phillips on the edge of the area and turned a defender but dragged his shot wide of the near post.

Roles were reversed nine minutes later when Gayle played in Phillips but the man whose goal gave Palace Premier League football couldn’t net this time around as his shot was saved by a sprawling Federico Marchetti, and the keeper was soon called into action again when he saved the lively Gayle’s volley from close range.

With time ticking away, Ederson saw a header from a Candreva corner narrowly miss the target but one goal was enough for Lazio to clinch the pre-season victory.

I have to say, the prospect of Chamakh playing in partnership with Dwight Gayle is one which excites me a lot. Given Gayle’s raw enthusiasm, it’s obvious he’ll be prepared to run through figurative walls for the collective cause this season, but now, thanks to the addition of the Moroccan, he won’t be forced to go it alone, which should be a source of great comfort to all of us. Once you set aside the stigma which has built around Chamakh during his time in north London, you will see a player who’s extremely adept at bringing those around him into the game, which could be worth its weight in gold as the season progresses.

No one is saying that Chamakh will provide 20-30 goals for us this season, but in terms of suitability to our specific needs, he should fit the bill perfectly. We all know what a bit of encouragement can do to a player’s game, with Andy Johnson and Darren Ambrose both proving that a bit of love and attention can go a long way towards ensuring that they reach their previous peak.

Had we have signed Chamakh prior to his stint at Arsenal, I’m almost certain that an overwhelming majority of our fans would be elated at the news, given his reputation when first moving to these shores from Bordeaux. Hopefully we can help his recapture the form that saw the initial buzz form around his name, and with the addition of three or four new faces before the transfer window shuts, we might just have a chance of survival.

How different things might have been. Arriving in the Summer of 2010, Chamakh was very publically courted by Arsene Wenger for more than a year before the striker’s arrival on a free transfer. Dubbed the big target man to replace Adebayor, fans were somewhat surprised to be presented with a man even-more metrosexual than FYP assistant editor Andy Street. Nevertheless, goals in pre-season had fans excited for the potential impact of the new arrival.

Excitement was not difficult to maintain as Arsenal made a flying start to the season. Playing ahead of a midfield boasting the likes of Fabregas, Wilshire, Nasri and Arshavin, Chamakh slotted seamlessly into the front line and provided both strength and impressive link-up play, enabling the midfield to do the damage. Strong with his back to goal, his movement and ability to keep defenders busy allowed the rest of the team to play with fluidity we’ve arguably not seen since at The Emirates.

One thing was missing and that was goals. Not a fox in the box style forward, Chamakh has never been a prolific goalscorer and when the free-scoring of Arsenal’s midfield declined this deficiency was highlighted. When Robin van Persie returned from injury to finally become the world class striker we’d long been hoping for – breaking numerous goalscoring records in the process – Chamakh’s limitations in this regard became even more obvious.

Eagles boss Ian ­Holloway hopes to hijack Fulham’s bid to land out-of-favour Bent from Aston Villa as he looks to recruit a ­proven Premier League goalscorer ahead of ­Palace’s return to the ­top flight.

The Londoners have agreed ­personal terms with Bent, 29, and are now hoping that Villa will lower their £6million asking price so that a deal can be done.

Holloway also has his sights on beating fellow top-flight new boys ­Cardiff to the signature of Montero, the Ecuadorian winger who plays for Mexican club Morelia.

The Bluebirds’ offer of £3million does not match Morelia’s valuation and Palace are hoping to now take advantage of the stalemate to make a move.

It’s a meat ­market – with vultures that like to call themselves agents picking the game down to its bare bones.

I have lost count of the number of players we have been offered since we hit a £100million jackpot with our play-off win over ­Watford. Many agents seem to believe that money belongs to them by right. Some approach you, claiming to have a mandate to work on behalf of players and the clubs that are selling them.

In reality, most of the time, they have no agreement in place and are just chancing their arm.

Premier League football is nothing like the shiny, ­sanitised product that they portray in television ads.

The game has got more than its fair share of chancers, parasites and hangers-on just out to make a quick killing.

And the higher up the food chain you go, the greedier they seem to become.

]]>https://hltco.org/2013/08/02/top-50-palace-goals-no-2-darren-ambrose-v-sheffield-wednesday-2nd-may-2010/
Fri, 02 Aug 2013 09:17:47 +0000Hopkin Looking To Curl One...https://hltco.org/2013/08/02/top-50-palace-goals-no-2-darren-ambrose-v-sheffield-wednesday-2nd-may-2010/As goals go, they don’t come any bigger than this one. With 90 minutes separating us from safety, we needed every player to perform. They did, and thanks to the right foot of Darren Ambrose, months of hard graft were rewarded, what a day…

When the ball fell to the feet of Darren Ambrose on that fateful afternoon at Hillsborough in 2010, it was as if our entire football club collectively held its breath in anticipation. Were he to have skewed his shot high or wide, the game would have continued, a different script would have been written and, thanks to the grim inevitability of the consequences of that day, we may well have been forced to accept that the football club had nowhere left to turn. Thankfully, Darren held his nerve, with his remarkably neat finish unleashing a torrent of noise and raw emotion from the 6,000 Palace fans camped behind the goal that reverberated all the way back to South London.

Needing just a draw to ensure survival in the second tier, our task was straightforward. In spite of point deductions, managerial departures and player sales, we had clawed our way towards salvation through a mixture of hard work and unbreakable resolve in the face of adversity, despite the odds being so heavily stacked against us, it really was a great time to be a Palace fan, with the entire club seemingly functioning as one entity, unwilling to accept failure.

Following Alan Lee’s powerful header and Leon Clarke‘s surprisingly deft finish in a nerve-filled opening 45 minutes, the scores were delicately balanced at 1-1. As it stood, we would survive, but with the prospect of heavy pressure from the home side as the game wore on, there was an acute awareness that we were in desperate need of another goal.

With a light rain falling and the voices of our travelling fans echoing around the famous old stadium, Allasane N’Daiye managed to flick a ball on towards the ever-industrious feet of Sean Scannell on the right-hand side of the pitch. Having taken two giant strides towards the touch-line, he rolled the ball across the penalty area, where it found Darren Ambrose in space.

The split second before Ambrose made contact with the ball seemed to last an eternity, as thousands of eyes focussed entirely in him. Steadying his feet in preparation, he struck his shot smoothly across the turf, gloriously out of the reach of a despairing Lee Grant in the Sheffield Wednesday goal. It was a perfect moment.

As I looked around the stand during those frenzied first moments of celebration, I was met by an endless stream of faces consumed by sheer emotion and relief. In many ways, no amount of words could those initial seconds justice. Grown men (including my own dad) were brought to tears, I hoisted a small Chinese woman who I hadn’t spoken to all afternoon, high into the air, it was utter chaos of the best kind.

The remaining minutes passed with an insane amount of stress. Prayers were whispered, cries of anguish and fear rang out regularly, until eventually, the final whistle sounded. It brought to an end one of the most turbulent seasons which ultimately, reached its climax in beautiful circumstances. I certainly haven’t ever celebrated a goal with such intense feeling before or since and I’m not sure I ever will again.

]]>https://hltco.org/2013/07/27/crystal-palace-news-27072013/
Sat, 27 Jul 2013 11:11:09 +0000Hopkin Looking To Curl One...https://hltco.org/2013/07/27/crystal-palace-news-27072013/All the news from SE25 in the last 24 hours

Crawley Town complete their pre-season programme with this game against Crystal Palace seven days out from their opening League One home fixture against Coventry City.

Brighton made the short trip to Broadfield in midweek and came away with a 2-0 victory but boss Richie Barker took plenty of positives from this game “There are loads of positives, nine players completed the 90 minutes and we created a lot of chances in the second half. We hit the bar, had a goal disallowed and their keeper made a great save to deny Jamie Proctor.”

They have also faced Ipswich and Millwall in home pre-season games but suffered defeat in both games.

A final day draw against Hartlepool meant that the club finished last season in tenth place in League One and will be looking to build on that good season as the new campaign gets under way.

TEAM NEWS

Palace: All four close season signings are included in the visitors squad but it is expected that as in the other friendlies the whole first team squad will be used at some point during the game. Owen Garvan is expected to miss out after suffering a knock at the midweek victory against Gillingham.

Dundee Football Club has always had a fine tradition of great goalkeepers at Dens Park and Julián Speroni certainly fits into that category, making what many fans consider not one, but three of the greatest saves ever made by a Dark Blues’ keeper. Signed under freedom of contract from Argentinean side Athletico Platense by Italian manager Ivano Bonetti in the summer of 2001, Speroni was joining The Dee’s attractive, cosmopolitan side that already included fellow Argentines Juan Sara, Fabian Caballero and Walter Del Rio.

Dundee had been on the lookout for a keeper when Marco Roccatti returned to Bologna after a year loan and Bonetti had been alerted to Speroni’s potential by one of his Italian contacts. Speroni was only too happy to come to Scotland after being subjected to gun touting, knife wielding, fanatical, Platense fans in the dressing room after a defeat and in his three years at Dens became a popular, cult figure between the sticks.

Speroni’s debut was delayed however after he had problems obtaining an Italian passport which he was entitled to through his grandfather. Julián required a European passport to stop him needing a work permit but the delay in obtaining one meant young goalkeeper Jamie Langfield started the season in goal in the Intertoto Cup game against Yugoslavs Sartid.

When Darren Ambrose arrived at Old Trafford on the evening on 30th November 2011, he wouldn’t have thought he’d be walking away just a few hours later, having scored what was arguably, the finest goal of his professional career.

With the starting eleven picked by Dougie Freedman that night not including the former Charlton midfielder, his main hope as the game began, was solely to play some part in proceedings, thankfully, the impact he eventually had on the game was monumental.

As half-time arrived, changes were enforced upon us, with both Sean Scannell andDean Moxey having to leave the field through injury, and with the score still deadlocked at 0 – 0, Freedman decided to introduce Ambrose as the second-half got underway.

With 10 minutes of second period gone, David Wright won the ball in a 50/50 challenge just inside our own half, before knocking it towards the impressive Wilfried Zaha on the right wing. Having been given a few yards of space to run into, Wilf looked up and spotted Ambrose, before rolling a ball into his path.

]]>https://hltco.org/2013/07/27/top-50-palace-goals-no-8-darren-ambrose-vs-manchester-united-30th-november-2011/
Sat, 27 Jul 2013 07:42:05 +0000Hopkin Looking To Curl One...https://hltco.org/2013/07/27/top-50-palace-goals-no-8-darren-ambrose-vs-manchester-united-30th-november-2011/Darren Ambrose scored 37 times in just 124 appearances for us, with this strike undoubtedly standing out as the most impressive of any that came before or after…

When Darren Ambrose arrived at Old Trafford on the evening on 30th November 2011, he wouldn’t have thought he’d be walking away just a few hours later, having scored what was arguably, the finest goal of his professional career.

With the starting eleven picked by Dougie Freedman that night not including the former Charlton midfielder, his main hope as the game began, was solely to play some part in proceedings, thankfully, the impact he eventually had on the game was monumental.

As half-time arrived, changes were enforced upon us, with both Sean Scannell and Dean Moxey having to leave the field through injury, and with the score still deadlocked at 0 – 0, Freedman decided to introduce Ambrose as the second-half got underway.

With 10 minutes of second period gone, David Wright won the ball in a 50/50 challenge just inside our own half, before knocking it towards the impressive Wilfried Zaha on the right wing. Having been given a few yards of space to run into, Wilf looked up and spotted Ambrose, before rolling a ball into his path.

Receiving the ball on the turn, Darren took a couple of touches to bring the pass under control, before advancing a few more feet. Having barely looked up at the frame of the goal, Ambrose let the ball roll towards his right foot, before unleashing an absolute thunderbolt from somewhere between 35 and 40 yards.

The ball swooped majestically towards the roof of the net, before serving drastically to the right of the United goalkeeper. Having been in the air for what felt an eternity, the shot found a place in the very top corner, having flown past the keeper at ridiculous pace. It was a strike which had dumbfounded all of those who had seen it, both inside the stadium and on TV.

Following the conclusion of the game, which we eventually won 2 – 1 thanks to an extra-time header from Glenn Murray, Gary Neville went as far as saying that Ambrose’s goal was the greatest he’d ever seen by a visiting player at Old Trafford, and in truth, there will be very few people who feel compelled to argue with him.

]]>https://hltco.org/2013/07/23/top-50-palace-goals-darren-ambrose-vs-aston-villa-14th-february-2010/
Tue, 23 Jul 2013 08:11:03 +0000Hopkin Looking To Curl One...https://hltco.org/2013/07/23/top-50-palace-goals-darren-ambrose-vs-aston-villa-14th-february-2010/When he placed the ball down to take the free-kick no one thought he would ever dare to shoot, but he did… (Words by Bradley Russell)

2010 was a tough year for everyone involved with Crystal Palace. That is, everyone except midfield maestroDarren Ambrose who had the season of his life. It helped, too, that he was picked up on a free from local rivals Charlton, much to the chagrin of the Addicks faithful. The most remarkable thing you can say about this goal, and Ambrose himself, is that it isn’t even his best goal on the list but it’s the measure of the man when a goal as sublimely hit as this one doesn’t feature as his top goal.
The F.A. Cup provided a brief respite from the turmoils off the field and it proved to also be a boon to the club as Crystal Palace reached the last-16 to play Aston Villa at Selhurst Park. The cup run provided much needed funds but it was the goal that will live longer in the memory. The Villa team probably didn’t think much of it as Nick Carle was fouled 35 yards from goal but Ambrose had that glint in his eye, the one we saw so many times that season, as he stepped up and smashed the ball in the far-right corner with unerring pace and precision. It made 2010 just that little bit sweeter and went some way to cementing Ambrose as a scorer of some of the greatest goals in Palace’s history.

Alan Lee: cult hero-cum-elbow bandit will mostly be fondly remembered for being a workmanlike striker who epitomised the diehard spirit of our spell in administration in 2010… and the small matter of a towering header against Sheffield Wednesday to ensure our survival in the Championship and, potentially, our ultimate survival.

For that, Alan Lee’s name will go down in legend, but the goal itself was far from elegant, in fact, it was as straightforward as you get; Alan Lee wouldn’t have it any other way.

Darren Ambrose, so often the scorer of many fine Palace goals (including one in the same game) was the instigator here. His whipped cross finding Alan Lee’s forehead with such effortless precision it’s a small wonder why Palace were in this position in the first place, even with the 10 point deduction.

Lee Grant in the Wednesday goal was left rooted on the spot as Alan Lee thumped the ball in to the far reaches of the net. Hillsborough went silent bar the 6,000 Palace fans at the other end of the ground who went berserk, jumping and piling in to one another. It was Alan Lee’s celebration that summed it up best: a double-handed fist pump. It was a case of job done and on to the next one. That was Alan Lee to the very end.

]]>https://hltco.org/2013/07/11/top-50-palace-goals-no-24-neil-danns-vs-scunthorpe-6th-february-2010/
Thu, 11 Jul 2013 08:12:54 +0000Hopkin Looking To Curl One...https://hltco.org/2013/07/11/top-50-palace-goals-no-24-neil-danns-vs-scunthorpe-6th-february-2010/Neil Danns scored 20 times for us in 114 appearances, with this effort perhaps being the most memorable of all of them…

It was a week which had begun with Neil Danns giving us three vital points in the battle for survival at home to Peterborough United, whilst Danny Butterfield‘s unexpected heroics in front of goal against Wolves in the FA Cup had continued the feel-good factor into midweek, as we scrambled to come to terms with the reality of beating administration for a second time in ten years.

The whirlwind seven days was to end with a trip to face Scunthorpe United at Glanford Park, with the importance of another win almost impossible ignore. The fixture got off to a nervy start, with both teams understandably worried about the prospect of conceding the lead early on. Half-time came and went without the scoreline being broken, before the game burst into life in the second period.

Somewhat predictably, it was Darren Ambrose who broke the deadlock, finding himself in space on the left-hand side of the penalty area, before cooly slotting the ball into the side-netting of the opposite corner with the nonchalant ease of an old-timer. We continued to press, and with around 20 minutes to go, Kieran Dijali latched onto a searching through-ball before being tackled from behind. The referee saw fit to send off the offending Iron player, leaving us hopeful of increasing our lead further.

These hopes were shattered a few minutes later, when a corner was floated into our penalty area, before being glanced into the top corner of Speroni’s goal by David Mirfin. It was a cruel blow, with all the momentum we had built disappearing in an instant, thankfully, it wasn’t to be the last act of an eventful afternoon.

With the clock ticking into injury time, Dijali edged forward, knocking the ball wide to Neil Danns on the right-hand side, where the midfielder looked to dart into the penalty area. Jinking one way and another, he teased his way into the box, cutting inside with a touch from his right foot, before looking up and curling a low shot towards the bottom left-hand corner of the goal.

It eluded everyone in a crowded penalty area, whistling just past the Scunthorpe goalkeeper’s outstretched palm before hitting the net. Danns was elated, as were our fans behind the goal. The initial few seconds following the goal saw everyone associated with the club lose all sense of composure, with bodies strewn everywhere. The few hundred supporters behind the goal exploded, whilst Danns and his teammates ended up in a heap on the floor in front of them. It’s difficult to know for sure what would have happened to us that season, had Danns not struck a late winner, but it certainly gave us the belief to head into the rest of the season knowing we could survive.

]]>https://hltco.org/2013/07/09/top-50-palace-goals-no-26-glenn-murray-vs-manchester-united-30th-november-2011/
Tue, 09 Jul 2013 08:04:13 +0000Hopkin Looking To Curl One...https://hltco.org/2013/07/09/top-50-palace-goals-no-26-glenn-murray-vs-manchester-united-30th-november-2011/Glenn Murray‘s legend began to grow in the 2011/12 season, thanks to moments such as this one. Bradley Russell summarises Glenn’s goal on the night we shocked the watching public…

The stage was set for Palace to roll over, the audience at home to sigh and curse United’s dominance once again. Things didn’t quite go as expected. Glenn Murray may not have scored many goals in his debut season but his tremendous goalscoring run was foreshadowed on the big occasions; first the Amex Stadium and then Old Trafford. Jermaine Easter’s anonymous performance was quickly forgotten as the Cumbrian hitman graced the turf at Old Trafford and he delivered the goods with ease.

The goal emphasised all that was good about Palace on the night and the preceding and eventual successes of the club. Wilfried Zaha bamboozled and tricked the United defence all night and his ‘chop’ lead Ji-Sung Park on a merry dance and forced him into an uncharacteristic foul. It was a dangerous position for any team to defend, let alone against set piece specialist Darren Ambrose.

It may not be as memorable as Ambrose’s effort but the ball delivered was inch-perfect and was crashed home by Murray. This wasn’t meant to happen, but when it did, the Palace fans let the United ‘faithful’ know it. Murray signalled towards the travelling support to indicate how they helped every step of the way but it was Murray who caused one of the biggest upsets in Alex Ferguson’s tenure.

]]>https://hltco.org/2013/06/23/crystal-palace-links-23062013/
Sun, 23 Jun 2013 12:01:23 +0000Hopkin Looking To Curl One...https://hltco.org/2013/06/23/crystal-palace-links-23062013/All the news from SE25 in the last 24 hours

‘We are in conversations with them. The chairman and the manager have been away on holiday and it is only really in the last few days that we have made contact, but I spoke to the gaffer a couple of days after the play-off final and he made it clear that he wanted me to stay,’ Phillips told Sky Sports News.
‘Hopefully we can get it sorted in the next week so that I can report back with the rest of the lads. It is an exciting season ahead and to be a part of that would be fantastic.’

What began in the 62nd minute and ended just six minutes later has now gone down in folklore amongst Palace fans. Starting with a close-range header following a goal-line save from Wayne Hennessey, Butterfield began his assault on the Wolves goal. Having given us the lead, it came as a genuine shock to see Darren Ambrose cushioning a ball into his path only two minutes later, with a few yards of space, Danny let the ball run across his body before poking it home to double our advantage.

It took just three more minutes for the fixture to get its fairytale ending. With the ball at the feet of Julian Speroni, it was launched towards the head of Alan Lee, who managed to flick it on and into the path of Butterfield once more. Running in behind the defence, he took a second to steady himself before hitting it hard and low into the centre of the goal, sparking wild scenes in all four corners of the stadium.

]]>https://hltco.org/2013/06/23/top-50-goals-no-42-danny-butterfield-vs-wolves-2nd-february-2010/
Sun, 23 Jun 2013 08:11:44 +0000Hopkin Looking To Curl One...https://hltco.org/2013/06/23/top-50-goals-no-42-danny-butterfield-vs-wolves-2nd-february-2010/Danny Butterfield wrote himself into Palace folklore with his performance against Wolverhampton Wanderers, on a night when it seemed as though anything was possible…

The beginning of 2010 was a dark time for everyone at Crystal Palace FC. With the financial constraints of administration casting a shadow over the club as a whole, there was very little to smile about.

At the end of the January transfer window, a deal was struck between ourselves and Wigan for the sale of Victor Moses. With the fee totalling just £2.5 million, it was clear to see that The Latics had got the better side of the deal, but with the administrator in urgent need of funds to keep the club ticking over, it was the only viable option.

Just three days after the departure of Moses, we were to entertain Wolverhampton Wanderers in an FA Cup Fourth Round replay at Selhurst Park, with the promise of a home tie against Aston Villa awaiting us if we could get past McCarthy’s men.

Thanks to Moses moving on, we were left without a great deal of attacking options, forcing Neil Warnock to take the unorthodox step of deploying Danny Butterfield, a right-back by trade, in a makeshift role as a striker, tasked with partnering Alan Lee at the head of our team for the evening.

What began in the 62nd minute and ended just six minutes later has now gone down in folklore amongst Palace fans. Starting with a close-range header following a goal-line save from Wayne Hennessey, Butterfield began his assault on the Wolves goal. Having given us the lead, it came as a genuine shock to see Darren Ambrose cushioning a ball into his path only two minutes later, with a few yards of space, Danny let the ball run across his body before poking it home to double our advantage.

It took just three more minutes for the fixture to get its fairytale ending. With the ball at the feet of Julian Speroni, it was launched towards the head of Alan Lee, who managed to flick it on and into the path of Butterfield once more. Running in behind the defence, he took a second to steady himself before hitting it hard and low into the centre of the goal, sparking wild scenes in all four corners of the stadium.

The defender, who had scored just seven goals in 252 prior appearances for the club, had completed a six-minute perfect hat-trick against Premier League opposition, it still sounds too ridiculous to comprehend three years on. The faces of Butterfield and his teammates told the whole story, with glorious disbelief etched across every single one of them.

It was a night that will remain in the minds of any Palace fan who witnessed it for many years to come. Despite the sense of worry and uncertainty that haunted the club during that time, it was a moment that demonstrated with stunning clarity, the unpredictable brilliance of the club we all love. Danny was already adored by most Palace fans, but that night, he ensured his place in our history forever.

]]>https://hltco.org/2013/06/15/number-50-neil-danns-vs-peterborough-30th-january-2010/
Sat, 15 Jun 2013 06:06:08 +0000Hopkin Looking To Curl One...https://hltco.org/2013/06/15/number-50-neil-danns-vs-peterborough-30th-january-2010/Some goals have made it into the countdown thanks to outrageous pieces of individual skill, whilst others have earned their place thanks to their importance. It’s fair to say that this effort from Neil Danns ticked both of those boxes…

The administration blighted season of 2010 has been crystallized in the minds of most Palace fans since its conclusion, with the fans and players who were part of the campaign forming a bond which is never likely to break.

The opening goal in our countdown was scored midway through our first home game following the bombshell that the club would be forced to enter administration for the second time in just 10 years, and it came via the right foot of Neil Danns.

With the team having been informed of the extent of our financial woes just three days prior to the game in question, emotions were understandably running high. Having looked as though we were in with a decent chance of mounting a play-off push just a week before, we were now in the middle of a battle for survival, with little to no assurances over what the future would bring.

Facing a Peterborough side who were rooted to the foot of the table, there was no escaping the importance attached to the game, with a win desperately needed, both in terms of the points that were on offer, and symbolically, as we searched for even the slightest glimmer of hope in a week which had knocked the collective stuffing out of everyone.

Thankfully, midway through the first half we were given a moment to savour. The move started at the feet of the ever reliable Clint Hill, who, having picked the ball up on the halfway line, looked towards the head of Alan Lee on the edge of the Peterborough penalty area. Having managed to get in front of his marker, Lee flicked the ball on another few yards into the path of Danny Butterfield who, clearly aware of the fact that Danns was lurking on the penalty spot, cushioned a header towards him.

With his back to goal, the midfielder let the ball drift across his body before impressively hooking it over his right hand shoulder and into the bottom corner of the Peterborough net. The release of tension around the ground was palpable, with all of the worries and fears that had been so evident just moments before being temporarily suspended. Danns was engulfed by his teammates at the corner flag next to the tunnel, before rising to his feet and saluting the supporters in front of him.

It was an afternoon which laid the foundations for what became one of the most memorable seasons in our history, with the importance of that first goal almost impossible to quantify in the grand scheme of things. With the stark reality of administration having gripped the club in the 72 hours prior to that moment, it was Danns who lifted our collective spirits with one moment of magic. There was such cohesion between the fans and players in the moments immediately after the ball hit the back of the net, it gave us all a reason to believe.

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Sat, 25 May 2013 18:07:14 +0000Gabriel Suttonhttps://talkingbluesblog.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/another-four-to-go/An announcement has been made via Birmingham Mail that 4 players have been made available for a free transfer. These are: Marlon King, Peter Lovenkrands, Darren Ambrose and Hayden Mullins. My immediate reaction to this news, in all honesty, is not one of great sorrow. This move may get £20K a week off the wage bill, which would be a step closer to getting out of debt. Although I don’t believe Clark deserves much credit for this, because I doubt the extent to which it was his decision.

King – key player?

The potential departure of Marlon King is the one to cause most concern amongst Blues fans, but I think it’s for the best. The big problem with King is he’s not a team player. People comment on his goalscoring ability, but in actual fact, my research shows that we score slightly more goals when he’s out of the team, even though he’s our top scorer. Look at this…

Blues 12/13 record with King in the team

Won- 7
Drawn- 9
Lost- 7

Points per game- 1.30
Goals per game- 31 in 23 = 1.35

King out of team

Won- 8
Drawn- 7
Lost- 8

PPG- 1.35
GPG- 32 in 23 = 1.37

This contrast is admittedly not a stark one, but it dispells the idea that King is a key player. According to Often Partizan, (a Blues site I highly recommend, by the way) there’s a rumour that he’s not liked too much by players and management too. In my view, it’s no coincidence that we began to hit good runs of form in the second half of the season, when King was injured for most of the time. And although his goal return is quite an impressive one, it’s not as if his goalscoring potency will improve in the next year or so. He’s 33 now, has had a niggling injury, which he quit the remainder of the season to attend to, which suggests his career is on it’s way out. For a fairly hefty wage of apparently around £10K a week, we can’t really afford to keep him. If anything, I see it that his absence will clear the path for a younger, hungrier striker like recent signing Novak, or Hales from the academy.

Not cut it – Lovenkrands

Fellow-striker Peter Lovenkrands is also seeing sights of the St Andrews exit door. For me, he’s been the most disappointing player of the season. He’s been simply lacklustre, not competitive enough, he’s looked immobile, and 3 league goals from 22 is an extremely poor return for an experienced forward. The only excuse I might give him, is that, as with Marlon King, he had a niggling injury throughout the season. Perhaps him being used to playing with a higher-standard of teammates has been a factor also, in terms of his passing accuracy, and he’s not always played in the centre. But there’s still no denying it’s been a very poor season for Lovenkrands, and given our strict wage structure, I’m not sad to see the back of him.

As evidenced by the theme developing in players we’re getting rid of, we can’t afford to keep those who continue to pick up injuries. Darren Ambrose has started just 3 matches this season, of which none he’s helped us win, although he had been played on the left side of midfield for most of the time he featured. But with Elliott, Reilly, Spector, Olly Lee and Shinnie in already in midfield, Ambrose is surplus to requirements.

Mullins is another midfielder on his way out, and apart from scoring the goal against Leeds which secured our Championship status, he’s not done much for us. His lack of mobility and stamina has been a big problem in midfield, where Callum Reilly has done a considerably better job than him, and for less money. I’ve done my research here…

Too slow – Mullins

Mullins in team

Won- 7
Drawn- 6
Lost- 8

PPG- 1.29
Conceded PG- 1.71

Mullins out of team

Won- 8
Drawn- 10
Lost- 7

PPG- 1.36
CPG- 1.08

As seen, our defensive record vastly worsens with Hayden Mullins in the side, clearly teams find it too easy to just pass around him, which inevitably leaves our back four more vulnerable. At the risk of being overly negative about a Birmingham City player, Mullins has simply not been good enough. Sorry, Hayden.

Overall, I have to say that given each of the players being shown the door have either performed poorly this season, or have been hit by injuries, and in each case the team has a better record without them in the side. It stands to reason this is a positive move for the club. It means we can get some more money off the wage bill, money which can go towards getting out of debt. If these players are earning a combined total of approximately £15-20K a week, that’s about a million pounds a year saved on players who, if anything, decrease the quality of the team. Furthermore, I would hope these probable departures will free up space for younger players to come into the team, to show more grit and passion, which has been the foundation of anything we achieved last season.

By Gabriel Sutton

]]>https://ccfctv.co.uk/2013/05/24/marlon-king-shown-the-door-by-birmingham-city/
Fri, 24 May 2013 16:45:40 +0000ccfctvhttps://ccfctv.co.uk/2013/05/24/marlon-king-shown-the-door-by-birmingham-city/Former Coventry City striker Marlon King has been told he can leave by cash-strapped Championship side, Birmingham City.

Since arriving at St. Andrews, King, 33, has scored 32 goals for The Blues, and still has a year to run on his contract.

But off the field troubles with owner Carson Yeung, has led to the club needing to trim the wage bill, and King has been told he is free to find a new club alongside Peter Lovenkrands, Darren Ambrose and Hayden Mullins.

The Jamaican international has finished both of his seasons at St. Andrews as the club’s top goalscorer, despite not playing since February this year due to injury.

King, netted 13 goals in 29 appearances for Coventry City in his one season at The Ricoh Arena.

]]>https://hltco.org/2013/01/23/the-daily-round-up-letting-the-eagle-spread-his-wings/
Wed, 23 Jan 2013 08:50:31 +0000Hopkin Looking To Curl One...https://hltco.org/2013/01/23/the-daily-round-up-letting-the-eagle-spread-his-wings/Until recently, it felt as though Wilfried Zaha was still very much our player. The kid who had been brought up in the Palace academy, was seen by many of our supporters as someone they had to look after, an individual with spectacular potential, who needed a fair bit of time and attention to reach the peak of his powers. Lately though, the media scrum surrounding him has left me feeling a tad distant, he’s become part of a national discussion, which in many ways, has forced the attention of our fans away from his personal well-being, and instead led us to focus on the financial implications of his supposedly imminent departure.

For me, one of the greatest things about supporting our club is the bond we form with our players. From a personal perspective, I can still remember the moment when Victor Moses ran joyously towards the crowd, having scored a 90th minute goal on Boxing Day in 2009 at home to Ipswich Town, with everyone well aware that he was more than likely to never appear at Selhurst Park in a Palace shirt again. It was the perfect way to sign off, and although no words were exchanged between the player and the supporters, there was a genuine understanding of what the moment signified.

Similarly, the connection forged between the squad and supporters during the remainder of that administration blighted campaign, is something that will never be forgotten. If you were a regular visitor of games during that spell, you’ll be fully aware of the way the fans and players moulded as one. It’s been done to death since, but the climax to that season, which took place at Hillsborough, left me and thousands of others, with memories we will never forget. I dare say it’s the same for every player that was involved, it didn’t need to be expressed in words, it was there for all to see in the emotion displayed on the pitch and in the stands.

Wilf’s graduation to regular first-team status came immediately after that crazy period had been put to bed. With the arrival of new owners came a fresh enthusiasm for the months that lay ahead and Zaha was a key part of why we all felt so sure we were onto something good. Making only his second appearance for the club at home to Leicester City on the opening day, Wilf raced onto a ball in the middle of the field, and lobbed it over Chris Weale’s head with the composure of a seasoned veteran. He was new, he was exciting and he was ours. Having been a relative unknown only a week or two before, he had grabbed the attention of everyone watching and given them a reason to believe in the future of our club, which only two months before, had looked as if it was heading towards oblivion.

Given his progression in the years that have followed, it’s fair to say, he’s become far more than the academy graduate who is only known by the people connected with Crystal Palace FC. With his full England debut in November, came an explosion of outside interest, even then, many supporters felt as though they had to do all they could to shield him for the dangers of hype and pressure, but the last few weeks have proven that there is no point in trying to contain the endless chatter. His future, thanks to the success he’s had since making those first steps into professional football, have ensured he’ll be spoken about by the national press for many more years to come.

Whatever happens between now and the summer, I’m certain I’ll keep a close eye on his career, it’s in my nature to feel those pangs of pride regardless of the club he’s representing, but the days of feeling personally responsible for his well-being are now consigned to history, it’s the price you pay for success, I suppose.

Palace were the dominant force after the re-start and were rewarded with a penalty on 62 minutes after Bradley Simmonds was adjudged to have fouled Quade Taylor in the box. The decision was harsh on the R’s but justice was done when Lumley saved Reise Assallaini’s spot-kick, saving low to his right to deny the Palace youngster from 12 yards.

We’d gone from relegation candidates to the play-offs and there was a great feeling around the place. But the game itself, I can’t give you many details. A lot has happened since.’
That’s true. But most of it is not what you might have expected at the time. There’s been the move to Tottenham, that rather unfortunate debut when he broke a bone in his foot, and the hours spent researching the healing rate of a navicular.
There were also the other eight moves in seven years that ultimately led him to Brendan Rodgers’ Swansea in summer 2011, and the statistic that showed he played 116 Premier League games without scoring before last season.
‘Journeyman’ appeared in several stories; some recycled an accusation from former Palace chairman Simon Jordan that he was a bench-warming money grabber.

]]>https://hltco.org/2012/12/14/the-daily-round-up-birmingham-away-beckons/
Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:43:01 +0000Hopkin Looking To Curl One...https://hltco.org/2012/12/14/the-daily-round-up-birmingham-away-beckons/Today there is comment from Steve Parish, who has spoken to the Croydon Advertiser about Wilf’s immediate future and the club’s decision to back proposals for the implementation of safe standing in English football stadiums. There is also news of the ticket details for tonight’s FA Youth Cup 3rd round tie against Port Vale which will take place at Selhurst Park. If you have the evening free, why not head down and support the youngsters?

The official site has a full preview of tomorrow’s game against Birmingham, with news of two Palace old boys who will be missing out, as well as plenty more. Keith Millen hs recently described his new role at Palace as his “dream job” and his thoughts on a return to south London are included. Finally, there is news of a mention for the club on The Guardian’s Football Weekly Extra podcast, which you can listen to in full by clicking on the link provided. Taking our inclusion out of the equation, it’s always a pretty entertaining listen for any football fan.

Birmingham City: Former Palace midfielders Darren Ambrose and Hayden Mullins add to a lengthy Blues absentee list as Ambrose has a knee strain and Mullins is suspended. Jonathan Spector is also out after picking up an ankle injury in the 1-0 defeat to Wolves last weekend but Pablo Ibanez and Nikola Zigic returned to training late this week and could be included in the squad. Stephen Carr (knee), David Murphy (knee), Akwasi Asante (hamstring) and Keith Fahey (compassionate leave) remain sidelined.

But it wasn’t the only match being played on Thursday morning: Sid Lowe joins us on the line from the touchline of a reporters’ game. There’s talk of – shock – Lionel Messi scoring two goals and critics trying and take away his goalscoring record.

Plus we preview all the Premier League games at the weekend, the story of Udinese’s lone away fan and a scandalous encounter in São Paulo involving an Argentinian side, the police and a metal pipe.

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Wed, 05 Dec 2012 13:20:28 +0000VSI TVhttps://vsitv.wordpress.com/2012/12/05/ipswich-towns-greatest-goals-of-last-decade-2002-2012-dvd/VSI’s sports division visionsport.TV has been super busy the last few months putting together the brand new Ipswich Town Goals of the Last Decade DVD for a Christmas release. It will be available in the official ITFC Planet Blue club shop from Saturday 8th December.

Ipswich Town’s Greatest Goals of Last Decade: 2002-2012

During the past decade the Blues have scored some memorable goals. From brilliant match-winners against arch rivals Norwich City to spectacular strikes from a whole host of talented goal-scorers. Featuring 200 of the best and most significant goals from 2002 to 2012, this exclusive programme includes many previously unseen on DVD.

Watch the Official Ipswich Town’s Greatest Goals of Last Decade: 2002-2012 Trailer Today for some Great Blues Action!

Official production for Ipswich Town Football Club by VISIONSPORT.TV

COPYRIGHT IN THIS VIDEO BELONGS TO VISIONSPORT.TV & VSI ENTERPRISES LIMITED. WE FILMED OR LICENSED THE MATERIAL, RECORDED THE AUDIO, OWN ALL RIGHTS IN THE MUSIC AND PRODUCED THE GRAPHICS, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.